The Mexicans have a funny name for this kind of biretta, which I guess was common at one point there (naturally, I suppose). It has something to do with the kind of bonnet that women who worked with chili peppers wore. It’s funny in Spanish but I can’t remember it now.
When I suggested to some folks in my hispanic community here that I might wear my cassock and biretta some time, or my black chasuble for All Souls Day, they looked at me like I had three heads! They were more shocked than a lot of Americans are about that kind of stuff. Too bad. I can’t wait to see how they respond should I ever decide to wear them! I’ll have to teach about it some, I suppose.
Hope your grip is good. This biretta looks mighty slippery.
Comment by Tina in Ashburn — 5 October 2008 @ 7:43 pm
I tried Casa Yusta, and the one they had was not very well made (I thought).
I have been on a mission for this for a priest friend for a couple of years. Perhaps the other hatshop or the suggestion of the Archdiocese of Toledo would be good ideas.
I believe Gammarelli carries them. I know an English priest who bought his Spanish biretta from them. If not,
1. simply bake a chocolate souffle, after thirty minutes baking time, check if done and slam the oven door very, very hard, and very, very loud!
I can’t resist this any longer: the first moment I looked at this biretta, I thought I was seeing a Tribble sitting on some futuristic looking chair out of Star Trek. And almost fell out of my own chair laughing.
Forgive me Fr. Z….
And why, pray tell, do you WANT one of those?
Is that a Roman style? Is the more familiar “fin” style a vestigial version of the beretta pictured here or vice versa?
Buona Domenica!
Comment by mcitl — 5 October 2008 @ 7:54 amThe picture has a watermark: http://www.dieter-philippi.de/
Mr. Philippi collects ecclesiastical headgear. There’s a contact form here: http://www.dieter-philippi.de/mydante_1600.html
Why don’t you just contact him? The german fields should be clear enough, at least the necessary ones.
Comment by Gorgasal — 5 October 2008 @ 8:28 amThe biretta appears to be in the Spanish style. The Archdiocese of Toledo should be able to assist.
Comment by Nick — 5 October 2008 @ 9:58 amYou could go out in the woods and try to find a black and white porcupine….
Comment by ckdexterhaven — 5 October 2008 @ 10:14 amI don’t know where to find one, but would just like to comment that it is almost certainly black rather than gray.
Comment by Emilio III — 5 October 2008 @ 10:25 amIs it associated with some particular university or college? – in which case you might not be entitled to wear it.
Comment by Little Black Sambo — 5 October 2008 @ 11:59 amIs is associated with a particular university or college? – in which case you might not be entitled to wear it.
Comment by Little Black Sambo — 5 October 2008 @ 12:00 pmI got one a few years ago from a shop called “Uniforms of Madrid”, in Madrid
Comment by Julian Large — 5 October 2008 @ 12:28 pmToledo used to have a good men’s hat shop, but I think it has closed.
There is a shop near the Cathedral in Madrid, which sells military and ecclesiastical uniforms, that’s your best bet, can’t remember its name.
But why do you want one? Does a non-Spaniard have a right/rite to it.
A local Anglican Church here in Brighton used to wear the Spanish birreta, for Spanish saints.
Comment by Fr Ray Blake — 5 October 2008 @ 1:11 pmThe Mexicans have a funny name for this kind of biretta, which I guess was common at one point there (naturally, I suppose). It has something to do with the kind of bonnet that women who worked with chili peppers wore. It’s funny in Spanish but I can’t remember it now.
When I suggested to some folks in my hispanic community here that I might wear my cassock and biretta some time, or my black chasuble for All Souls Day, they looked at me like I had three heads! They were more shocked than a lot of Americans are about that kind of stuff. Too bad. I can’t wait to see how they respond should I ever decide to wear them! I’ll have to teach about it some, I suppose.
Comment by Fr. BJ — 5 October 2008 @ 1:36 pmHere is a picture of a child’s Mass playset with the Biretta.
Child’s Mass Set
Comment by Michael Fudge — 5 October 2008 @ 2:06 pmWell, the link didn’t really work. So here it is again:
http://www.angelfire.com/space/france/images/2003/figueres/toymus.jpg
Comment by Michael Fudge — 5 October 2008 @ 2:08 pmHello, sorry for my bad English. This Spanish biretta is named BONETE FOR PRIESTS.
I know two shops:
CASA YUSTAS.
Plaza Mayor, 30. 28012 Madrid, Spain.
Phone (Spain): 91 366 50 84.
Web: http://www2.casayustas.com/
SOMBREROS CURA ARGÜESO.
Plaza Corrillo, 11. 37002 Salamanca, Spain.
Phone 923 266 783.
Web: http://www.sombrereria.net/
There is not pics from the “bonete” in this webs, but they make them on order.
Comment by JosĂ© L. — 5 October 2008 @ 3:09 pmBest regards from Una Voce Málaga, Spain.
Interesting information! Would that amazon had it in their database!
Comment by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf — 5 October 2008 @ 3:19 pmThis looks like it’d be hard to hold compared to a regular biretta. I bet it’d get used a couple of times and then get lost in the sacristy closet.
Comment by RichR — 5 October 2008 @ 4:38 pmJosé, you never cease to amaze me. He’s packed with information.
José, nunca dejas de asombrarme. Tienes toda la información…
:o
Comment by Manrique Zabala de ArĂzona — 5 October 2008 @ 4:48 pmthere are several such spanish bonete (in private ownership) in London. Ask long enough, Father, and someone might give you one!
Comment by josephus muris saliensis — 5 October 2008 @ 5:36 pmGracias, Manrique.
Comment by JosĂ© L. — 5 October 2008 @ 6:24 pmThanks !
Hope your grip is good. This biretta looks mighty slippery.
Comment by Tina in Ashburn — 5 October 2008 @ 7:43 pmI tried Casa Yusta, and the one they had was not very well made (I thought).
I have been on a mission for this for a priest friend for a couple of years. Perhaps the other hatshop or the suggestion of the Archdiocese of Toledo would be good ideas.
Comment by Tom — 5 October 2008 @ 9:27 pmI believe Gammarelli carries them. I know an English priest who bought his Spanish biretta from them. If not,
1. simply bake a chocolate souffle, after thirty minutes baking time, check if done and slam the oven door very, very hard, and very, very loud!
2. attach pom-pon.
Comment by JBD — 5 October 2008 @ 9:37 pmI can’t resist this any longer: the first moment I looked at this biretta, I thought I was seeing a Tribble sitting on some futuristic looking chair out of Star Trek. And almost fell out of my own chair laughing.
Comment by Janet — 6 October 2008 @ 5:53 pmForgive me Fr. Z….
Janet: That is actually pretty funny!
Comment by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf — 6 October 2008 @ 10:47 pmProbably one needs to have the same color of hair in order to wear one of those (gray) birettas ;-)
Comment by Father John Trigilio — 7 October 2008 @ 8:12 am